For Week 25 we will compose our shots using a special lighting technique to create Sun Stars. Basically, we will be including the sun as part of our composition using a high f/stop.

See the following examples on the technique:

Lens Tests: Fisheye - Sun Stars - Stefan Rohloff Photography

Shutterbug: 9 Easy Special Effects

How to keep from going blind using this technique:

Seeing Stars: How to Create Sunbursts

(Pictures for the week xx competition are to be taken and posted between 20091227 and 20100103).

NOTE: We have two Seasonal competitions planned for the last two weeks of year two. You may take pictures for these anytime between 20090705 and the posting dates of 20100704 or 20100711. This way you can include your favorite holiday or season whenever it occurs during the year.

Rules:
1. Anyone and everyone who is interested in eligible. The goal continues to be
have fun and share comments, concepts, insights, and techniques with fellow
Pentaxians.
2. Each week will feature a Theme and Sub-concept for you to explore.
3. Post your single picture in Project 52-2 thread for the week. Explain what
motivated you to take the picture and/or how you feel it represents the weekly
theme.
4. Some post-processing is OK (adjusting white balance, exposure, color
saturation), but let's try to stay away from heavily PP'ed images here. Try to
keep the creativity to photographic techniques and the captures themselves.
5. Since this project is about technique, and not camera, shots taken by nonPentax
cameras are allowed. Cameras can be SLRs, DSLRs, Point & Shoot and Medium Format.
6. There is one “Theme Concept” labeled “black and white,” but feel free to post
black and white, sepia, monotone, etc., for any of the other themes.
7. The picture you post should be taken during the week in which the theme is
active to be eligible for judging.
8. Any picture taken from 20090705 to listed closing date is acceptable for the
two “Seasonal” competitions – Projects 52-2-51 & 52.

Additional Information: Project 52-2

[Rense]

Have you seen our sky? Even gray, from North to South. Must be fun, chasing the sun....

[DanLoc78]

this should expose how dirty our sensors are too...no doubt...

[mithrandir]

Have you seen our sky? Even gray, from North to South. Must be fun, chasing the sun....

In a week's time, you expect not the sun to see? -- Yoda

[Rense]

Who knows, who knows. But probably I won't be able to contribute, because I am a week with friends. But again: who knows....

[Bramela]

Hey Rense, you looking for some sun, I have so much I can send some with oodles left over.
I would like a break from it actually

[Bramela]

PS : I think I had better withdraw the offer, it has been very cloudy and raining here for a 5 or 6 days now, (up to 3" last 72 hrs)......just beautiful, considering we are in drought.
Best Christmas gift of all

[mithrandir]

While working at a nearby homeless shelter, I noticed the sun shining through a winter-nude tree. I thought it would be perfect for creating a sun-star effect. Since I did not have a ND filter with me, I tried to block part of the sun with the tree branches and used an f/stop of f/22. To keep from going blind, I looked at an angle through the viewfinder (instead of directly into the sun light).

I think the colored flares added to the cinematic effect.

[ramseybuckeye]

We saw the sun for the first time in what seems like weeks today. I wish I had read this thread before I went out. These were done at f8 and a 1/640 shutter speed. I would like to have seen what it would look like at f22.

[Dale]

I'll vote for one of K McCall's flickr sunstar posting.

And add my first attempt (successful) at the same:

[Ash]

A trial of my own with central composition:

[Dale]

That's not bad Ash. What lens?

[Rense]

Wow, great efforts til now. Tried some in Sweden, but did not get reasonable results . Probably f/22 is not enough..... For tomorrow they promised some sunshine, so probably I can get out and give it a last chance. This is a difficult one!!!

[Tamia]

This is the best I could do in the time period stipulated. The sun came out for about 15 minutes in all that time (a slight exaggeration!).

[Bramela]

Just a friendly reminder. Could entrants please note Rule #3 "Single" entry.

If there is more than 1 entry, I will judge on the first photo only.

Good to see the entries coming in, I will give it about 24 hours longer before closing and judging.